Plea to stay AIADMK general council meet on Nov 24 dismissed

Justice P D Audikesavalu before whom the plea moved by an AIADMK person from Salem came up made it clear that the court cannot intervene in matters relating to the internal affairs of a political party and proceeded to dismiss it. However, with the petitioner’s counsel seeking to withdraw the plea, the judge dismissed the plea as withdrawn.

The petitioner Sundar had submitted that he has been an AIADMK member since 1985 and when late MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa were its general secretary, the AIADMK party functioned as per the rules and the general council was convened only after holding intra party elections.

But after Jayalalithaa’s death, changes were made in the rules and instead of a general secretary guiding the party the power has been usurped by the coordinator and joint coordinator. Also, contrary to the assurances offered to the Election Commission that intraparty elections would be held, no elections have been held. Even the post of treasurer has not been subjected to election raising fear of irregularities in the party’s finances. But notwithstanding this, the party has announced the holding of the general council on November 24. Hence, since the general council has been convened without holding the intraparty elections, the proposed meet ought to be stayed, the petitioner said.

However, Justice Audikesavalu before dismissing the plea as withdrawn also clarified that such issues must be taken up as civil case and that a writ cannot prevail in such intraparty matters.